Body-protector.



J'. c. PHB'LPS.

BODY PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION IFILBD'JUNE 17, 1911 1,021,376. Patented Manz, 1912.

JOHN C. PHELPS, F POWNAL, VERMONT.

BODY-PROTECTOR.

specmation of Letters Patent.l Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

Application led June 17, 1911. Serial No. 633,762.

' To all whom 'it may concern;

Beit known that I, JOHN C. P HELPS, a citizen of the UnitedStat-es, residmg' at Pownal, in the county of Bennington and and illustrated in the accompanying draw-l tion.

.line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lBody-Irotectors of which the following 1s a specifica- This invention relates to body protectors which may be worn by soldiers or other men whose lives are endangered by assassins or the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a body protector which may' be supported by shoulder straps andworn in front of the wearer, said protector comprismg a frame work made of light metallic material which can not be penetrated by the ordinary bullets. l i i il A. further object 'is to provide a resilient means for holding the protectors away from" the body of the-wearer, which 'resilient means aids in carrying the protector-on the body and permits a yielding movement caused by any jar which a bullet or other weapon might produce.

With the above and other objects in View, this invention consists in the construction,

combination, and arrangement of parts, all

as hereinafter more fully described, claimed,

ings wherinj Figure 1 is a persplective of the present invention; Fig.' 2 1s a agmentary view partly iii-)section dlsclosing the construction of the protector; Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 3--3 ofFig.v 2; Fil 4 is a'fview takenon iig. 5 is a rear elevation ofthe presentinvention; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view disclosing the construction o the shoulder supporting straps.

Throughout the following'fdetail description and on the several figures of the drawings, similar parts are referred to by like reference characters.

In, carrying out the present invention, 1 designates a frame whichmay be madeof any desirable light material, the same comprisin u a series of transverse bars 2 which have t eir sides grooved to receive the tubu-` being of larger diameter than, and receiving' the tubular members 5. These Amembers 3 are mounted in the side members 7, as clearly disclosed in Fig. 2. A plurality of reinforcing straps 8 may be secured to the-frame for strengthening the same. As disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4, the grooved sides of the horizontal bars 2 are knurled adjacent to their outer edges as at 9 to securely gripthe sleeves 6 and prevent any rotation of the latter.

To'the lower portion of the body protector l is secured a coiled spring .10', the diameter of the same being reduced centrally,

as illustrated in Fig. 5, to conform rto the v shape of the body. Passing through this coiled spring 10 is a strap or beltll which is adapted to encircle the body for securing the protector thereto. `To the upper edge of the protector 1 is secured a pair of shoulder straps, each comprising a series of llinks 12, such as is disclosed in Fig. 6, and a flexible nember 13, such as leather or other desirable material, the latter passing over lthe shoulder and being secured to a knapsack 14. This chain like construction which is composed of the links 12 is adapted to bear on the body adjacent to the shoulders to prevent any lateral or skidding movement of the protector 1. The knapsack 14 comprises a bag which opens where the straps l5 are secured, said straps l5 being secured to the free terminals of the shoulder straps 13.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that a bullet proof construction is obtained which may be made of varying Weights, according to the material 'used and of various sizes. Furthermore, it will be observed that 'the coil-ed spring 10 forms a resilient means for supporting the protector on the body, and gives to the protector 1 a yielding movement When a bullet, knife, or other Weapon is struck thereagainst, said movement taking practically all the jai' from the body.

The frame l ,may be of a flexible nature, if it is desired, by constructing the same of flexible or spring* material. The weight of the knapsack with the aid of t-he strap belt 11 Supports the protector on the body.'

Having thus fully described my invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A body protector comprising a plurality of horizontal bars, a plurality of metallic members interposed between said bars, side members secured to said bars and receiving the terminals of the said metallic members, and means for securing said protector to the body.

3. A body protector comprising a frame composed of horizontal bars provided with grooves in the sides thereof, the surfaces of said grooves being knurled, a plurality of sectional'I metallic members seated in said grooves, side members securing said hori zontal bars together and receiving the terminals of said metallic'membersf, and means for securing said frame to the body.'

AL A body protector comprising a fra-me, means for securing said frame to the body, a hollow resilient body secured to said frame land adapted to retain the latter in spaced relation to the body, and lmeans passing through said resilient body for securing said frame about the wearer.

5. A body protector comprising a frame, means for securing said frame to the body, a hollow resilient. body of smaller diameter at its central portion than at its terminals,

and a belt passinoP th'i'ough said hollow body for securing the Frame to the wearer.

6. A body protector comprising al frame,

'shoulder straps for securing the former to the body, said shoulder' straps comprising a series of links adapted to bear against the body'and prevent any lateral movement ot', ,In

and a knapsack secured to the said frame,

for the terminals of said shoulder straps, purposes herein speciied.

In testimony Whereofl' atlix my signature in presence of two Witnesses. l

JOHN C. PHELPS.

Witnesses:`

ADELLA M. PHELPS, IDA B. PHELPS. 

